What Kind of Christian are you (2)

What Kind of Christian are you (2)

The Apostle Paul admonished Timothy in his second letter to him, 2 Timothy 2: 3 to 7 thus: 

3. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 
4. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 
5. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor's crown except by competing according to the rules. 
6. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 
7. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

It is my sincere prayer that you will make out time to reflect on this portion of Scripture so as to get the insight promised in verse 7, in Jesus name because to be a Christian you "MUST" be a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Let's try to break down all that was said in 2 Timothy 2: 3 to 7 so we can have a better understanding of where we are as Christians and where Christ would have us be.

1. We are first admonished to take part in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus would follow him, no matter the cost.

So that presupposes that we would have to accept him as Lord and follow him like a soldier, talk-less good ones and not like mere civilians who don't live regimented lives and do not have to answer to anyone.

Jesus Christ is supposed to be to us both Lord and Saviour but if one is a Christian choosing to serve in a civilian capacity I can assure you that submitting to his Lordship is simply impossible.

2. Serving as a soldier of Christ has the wonderful perk of ensuring that you don't get entangled in civilian affairs, that is, mundane and ephemeral issues that have no eternal significance to your calling, by giving you the singular focus of pleasing your commanding officer, who is Jesus Christ, the Commander of the Armies of God Almighty by helping you die to yourself.

Civil Christianity just does not exist in God's scheme of things. Baby Christian yes but civilian Christian, No! So grow up and get with the programme!

3. Christianity is also compared to the preparation of an athlete in that anyone who would choose to follow Christ cannot receive the victorious crown of eternal life in heaven, unless (s)he trains and competes according to the guiding law and principles of Christ.

4. As Christians, the hardworking farmer in God's mission field will definitely be the first to receive a share of the harvest just as we are encouraged in 1 Corinthians 9:24, that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize, and that we should run in such a way as to get the prize, which simply said is by competing according to the rules which is the principles that govern the lordship of Christ in our lives.

Once again I reiterate that you make out time toprayerfully reflect on Timothy 2: 3 to 7, because the Lord assured us that He'd give us insight about it.